Isara Student Scholarships

[thartley]

What I can't get over is how little it costs to be able to help these kids continue their studies.  It is impossible to pay school tuition for a child in the states for only $50.  When my daughter was in school, that would barely cover her basic school supplies alone, much less uniforms, etc.  The tuition here is separate from other related costs, but it is so easy by our standards to sponsor these kids for tuition.  I know I could spend $50 taking my daughter out to a movie just twice.  And for that, I could send a kid to school and help ease the burden off the parents a bit.

Some of these families, as was the case with at least one of the students we were told about at the orientation this morning, have lost the sole financial provider (usually the father) in an accident.  And without some kind of assistance, the children would not be able to go to school.  The schools do have a budget of some kind that provides for scholarships, but there is never enough to cover everyone in need.  We do what we can to help the ones who are left when the budget dries up.

As the new school term fast approaches, I have seen several students who have studied at the ILC with us come in to see if we could possibly help them in some way.  These kids WANT to go to school, they really WANT a chance for a better future.  They will be providing for their parents when they finish school.  This is their culture, and they know the best chance they have to make a better life for their family is to get as good an education as they can.  And I think its fantastic that Isara has some kind of role in helping make that happen.

ok, I'm done now.

[KitKat]

Terri, I'm grateful you're there, as a volunteer, experiencing what Isara is doing to help the young kids with their tuition expenses. Seeing it first hand, meeting the kids, and knowing exactly how our clicks are making a difference is exciting and very rewarding.

[Ginafish]

Thank you for good hearts and Isara.

[Soulessaint]

These scholarships are helping so many children. I'm extremely proud to be apart of Isara.

Thartley, you write so well! Take care. Gbya

[M3R1IN]

Knowledge is power! so this is a project I believe my family will continue to support.
I am so glad we have people at Isara who are able to find people in need of scholarships and will make sure these kids get what they need for schooling.

[M3R1IN]

Wow.  Things are really taking off over there.  Keep up the good work.

[PK]

Last week we went to a local college (JBAC) and helped three of our scholarship recipients register and buy their books and uniforms. THANK YOU to Isara member M3R1IN and his parents for their generous donation of $300, which covered one students scholarship. Also, thank you to ZeroG ($55) and a friend of thartley ($100). They both donated to help with scholarships too. Their money went to covering the costs of books and uniforms for the other two students.



The students are (last pic, from left-to-right); Nok, Party, and Rossarin (Mo).  You might remember them from Isara's "Students Helping Students" project from about two years ago. Here's the video: http://www.isara.org/comp...k,videodirectlink/id,100/

We were also visited by some of the other Isara Scholarships recipients. They said they're enjoying their classes and appreciate everyone's support at Isara. FYI Your clicks paid for their tuition, books, and uniforms. Here are some pics!




We've created a webpage specifically for Isara scholarship recipients. Check it out!
http://www.isara.org/content/view/303/224/

[Nok_Sam]

 Thank you ISARA for your help and support. I promise i will concentrate on my studies.Thank you and Thank you again ISARA very very much.

  NOK

[thartley]

Nok- we are all very happy to be able to help!   

I LOVE the page with all the scholarship recipients on there!  Its almost like looking at a yearbook, I see a few faces I know and recognize.   

[Ginafish]

Nok, thank you for thanking Isara very very very very much!

I also love the new scholarship page! And I'd love to see more kids on there Gik and Guk's age next year!

[Soulessaint]

I really like the scholarship recipient page, too. Hi thartley how bout we do a real yearbook(once a year or whatever is chosen), my vote for thartley being editor . Pk, how much would it cost to print it out. We can have it not only for the Isara Scholarship recipients, but volunteers, online supporters, and maybe some Isara students as well. I know everyone won't be able to be in the yearbook, but its a idea.

Nok, we are so honored to help all of you!!!! Be blessed. Gbya

[yasiga]

i don't bilieve in people just hoping. we work for what we want.i always say that one had no right to hope without endeavor....... -_- keep going ja!

[PK]

Last Sunday one of Isara's Scholarship recipients, Dear, left Nong Khai to go to Bangkok where she will study Hotel and Tourism in college.

 

Dear was a student at the ILC last year but had to stop because of work. But since she REALLY likes to study she managed to find time to study for her High School Equivalence  test  when there weren't any customers at the restaurant where she worked.

 

Last month she came to the ILC to show us her diploma and her amazing GPA of 3.91.  Wow!!!  Afterwards she and I talked about her plans and she said she wanted to go to college but her family wanted her to work as a hairstylist in her village or, at least, continue working at the foreigner restaurant in Nong Khai.  We really wanted to help her but Isara's funds were at an all time low because of other scholarship costs.  Fortunately, Jennie, a friend of Isara who is staying here for 6 weeks, agreed to help pay for Dear's tuition if she decided that's what she really wanted to do and the parents were ok with it.

Needless to say Dear jumped at the chance and was very grateful for Jennie's help. Dear was also happy for all the support from Isara and even registered to be a member of the website. Isara will be helping with some of her basic living expenses until her first pay check arrives from her new job in Bangkok (which she found the first day she was there!). Today she called to let us know she found a girls dorm and has moved in and she'll start classes soon.

Good luck, Dear. We're all very proud of you for deciding to continue your education and we're sure you'll do great!

[Ginafish]

AWEsOME! Dear, keep up the good work with your grades in college! Congratulations on finding a job and housing so quickly! You are definitely where you should be!

Thank you Jennie for your help!!

[KitKat]

This is great news!   It's good that you found a job and housing so quickly!    Jennie, thank you for helping Dear.   

[Jennie]

Had the opportunity to meet Dear before she left and she seems very motivated and I know that she's extremely talented and hardworking. It is amazing how easy it is to help through Isara, and an inexplicable feeling when you can see concrete results of the scholarships, and so fast! So I want to thank Isara for helping me to help. In fact, I've been staying at Isara for free during these weeks so money that would have gone to accommodation could now go to Dear. Thank you!

And the best of luck to you Dear, chook dee na ka.

[thartley]

I grabbed a sandwich at OJ's this evening and talked to Dear's aunt.  I asked her how Dear was doing and she said she is doing very well and really seems to like Bangkok!     I am very happy to know that.

[Ginafish]

How long are the scholarships for? Are they a full year or six months? Just wondering when this charity opportunity will start up again.

[PK]

As long as they receive passing grades then Isara will take care of their tuition until they graduate.

Tuition is paid every 6 months.

[Ginafish]

So now... like a dork... is that January and June or when is the beginning of the school calendar?

[PK]

A new term has just begun so it was time to meet with some of our scholarship recipients to see how things are going and to pay some tuition costs (this term is much cheaper than the last one).

 

After seeing many of our scholarship recipients driving motorcycles, but not wear a helmet, we have begun to enforce a new rule that says, "If you don't wear a helmet you don't get a scholarship." Rules are not taken seriously here (because they're never enforced) so they might be surprised when we actually enforce this rule and deny them tuition in the future. But it's the only way to protect them and our investment.

This morning, after a looooooong speech about life and protecting it, our students all promised to wear helmets. Since they were promising to wear something that they didn't have we told them to visit the ILC after class so they could all get a free helmet.

   

And they also got free som tum coupons.

Tuition: $95 (for all 15 students)
15 Helmets: $60

[Ginafish]

Great idea to enforce helmets with scholarship students! Thanks for the pictures! It's nice to recognize students.

I hope your loooonnng speech helps.

[KitKat]

I think this added reinforcement of rules is excellent.  It makes them accountable for their scholarship gift.   Keep your long speech going, they need to hear it.     I also liked seeing them unpacking and putting the visors on.   It makes them a part of the solution.  

[PK]

A lot of the students returned to the ILC today (all wearing their helmets) to play computers, ping pong, and to get money for books. It would be nice if they just visited to say "Hi" once and a while but, for now, we're just happy they come by at all.

Books and Uniform Pants (15 students): $210

[thartley]

You should have them choose one Isara project to help out on also.  Could be anything, Keeping Nong Khai clean and litter free, helping to pass out safety literature at Sunday Market, or have them come up with a group project of their own that they execute.